2015:290 - Beckett Park, Laughanstown, Dublin

Testing was carried out between October and December 2015 within the footprint of the proposed Beckett Park, at Laughanstown, Co. Dublin within the Cherrywood SDZ. It followed on from recommendations made in a desktop assessment for the development (Tobin 2015) and a geophysical survey (Nicholls 2015, 15R0070). The results were submitted to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in response to Item 1 of a Request for Further Information (Planning Ref.: DZ15A/0814). Approximately 11% (or 2,678 linear metres of trenches) of the site was subject to testing at this time to investigate the archaeological potential of enclosure DU026-006, the site of a levelled post-medieval farmstead, scattered geophysical anomalies and the remaining greenfield areas.

Metal detection (licence ref. 15R0131) of testing spoil identified five iron objects which appeared to be modern or post-medieval in date. No evidence for enclosure DU026-006 was identified in any of the trenches within the footprint of the park or the adjacent Phase 1 Roads and Infrastructure (separate Licence Ref.: 15E0471). It is possible, however, that heavily denuded remains survive outside of the footprint of the test trenches. If present there may be a moderate direct negative impact on any remains, caused by ground disturbance associated with the proposed development.

The remains of a levelled vernacular farmyard, shown on the first edition OS map and highlighted as geophysical anomaly 3, was identified as Archaeological Area 1 (AA 1) in T1–3 and T49. With the exception of GA 3 (AA 1) all of the geophysical anomalies indicated changes in the natural geology or field clearance dumps. Three further previously unrecorded areas of archaeological significance were identified, comprising of four pits and a ditch in AA 2, three pits, a charcoal clamp and a burnt spread in AA 3 and a possible hearth and burnt spread in AA 4. It is difficult to determine function and date of these features at this time, however given the proximity of the vernacular farmyard to the north in AA 1 it is possible that these may relate to domestic or agricultural activity associated with the occupation of this site. Groundworks associated with the proposed development will have a significant direct negative impact on the features identified during testing in AA 1–4 and any associated archaeological remains. Disturbance associated with construction, such as topsoil stripping and excavation/reduction of ground level, will cause the removal of the above-mentioned features.

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